Rail fares on most train services through Croydon, including Southern Rail, are set to rise next month, it has been announced.

Southern commuters, who have to put up with a service regularly rated as the worst in the country, will have to cope with a 3.3% fare hike from January 2, the largest fare rise in five years.

Passenger group London Travelwatch said the fares rise on Southern would leave passengers “exasperated”, though welcomed the real terms fares freeze on TfL services.

Chairman Arthur Leathley said: “Another real terms fares freeze on TfL services will be a relief for some passengers.

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“However, National Rail passengers hit by fares rises will rightly be exasperated when punctuality fails to meet their needs and when overcrowding levels are getting worse.

“Serious anomalies in the cost of travel remain from various different points around London’s commuter belt and passengers are often not entitled to compensation. We encourage passengers to put off the 2018 fares increase by renewing their season tickets before 2 January.”

The Rail Delivery Group (RDG), a body that represents train operating companies and Network Rail defended the rise, saying the increase was below both the regulated fares rise of 3.6 per cent and the Retail Price Index measure of inflation at 4 per cent for October.

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But the figure is higher than both the Consumer Price Index inflation measure, which is 2.8% and the average weekly earnings rise, of 2.2%.

After the price rise, a season ticket between Brighton and London is set to go up by £148, to £4,332.

The RMT union described the fares announcement as another “kick in the teeth” for rail passengers.

Southern Rail conductor stands next to train and its driver at East Croydon station (Image: Jack Taylor/Getty Images)

General secretary Mick Cash said: "For public sector workers and many others in our communities who have had their pay and benefits capped or frozen by this Government, these fare increases are another twist of the economic knife. The private train companies are laughing all the way to the bank."

But RDG chief executive Paul Plummer said the Government controls increases to half of fares.

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He added: "Alongside investment from the public and private sectors, money from fares is underpinning the partnership railway's long-term plan to change and improve."

The body claimed that 97p in every £1 spent on fares is spent on improving infrastructure and running services.

On TfL buses and trams all fares are being frozen again in 2018, while single pay-as-you-go fares and paper single tickets on the Tube and DLR will both be frozen.

However, travel on some National Rail services within TfL’s fare zone may have some fare rises, such as journeys from East Croydon to London Bridge or Victoria, while daily caps are also set to rise. For more information on the rises, click here.